Tee ball carrier

ABSTRACT

A unique design for a portable kit for playing Tee Ball which provides the user a convenient, compact, and simple method to transport equipment for the game of Tee Ball. In one example, the device includes a five gallon bucket as a carrier, a lid that serves as home plate, and a batting post that secures to the lid. In other versions the bucket and lid are shaped in the form of a pentagon and the carrier may include additional optional equipment such as balls, gloves, and helmets.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to devices for storing and carrying baseball equipment, especially devices for carrying baseball batting tees and related equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tee Ball is a game that requires a lot of equipment that can be cumbersome to carry to and from the field. In most cases, the tee is a specially-produced device having a heavy base and a telescoping ball holder. The additional balls, helmets, bats, gloves, and other equipment also must be carried to and from the field, often in an awkward manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a more useful portable kit for playing tee ball by its unique design and construction. In the preferred version, the invention uses a standard five gallon bucket having a modified lid that is fitted with a means to secure to a batting post. In that fashion, the lid and post serve as a batting tee, with the lid also functioning as home plate. For storage and transportation, the post is either telescopically retracted to fit into the bucket and/or is removed from the lid and inserted into the bucket. The bucket further includes space for optional storage of other equipment such as balls, gloves, and helmets.

In one example of the invention, the Tee Ball carrier provides a self-contained portable kit for playing Tee Ball that includes a lid, bucket, base, batting tee, balls, bat, and helmet. A portion of the bucket converts into the foundation for the batting tee for use at home plate during play.

In some versions of the invention, the tee foundation is in the typical pentagonal shape that conforms to the regulation size and shape for a baseball home plate. In other versions, the tee foundation is round takes any other shape. The bucket is formed from plastic or other suitable materials for the above or other related baseball equipment.

These and other examples of the invention will be described in further detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative examples of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred example of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the example of FIG. 1, showing the lid sealing the container;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate example of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the example of FIG. 3, showing the container in an opened position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of yet another alternate example of the invention, showing the container in an opened position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the example of FIG. 1, showing an alternate handle configuration;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the example of FIG. 1, showing an alternate handle configuration;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an alternate form of the invention, including wheels;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the version of FIG. 8, showing an extendable handle and removable lid;

FIG. 10 is perspective view of the version of FIG. 8, showing the handle retracted and the lid removed;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a hinged example of the invention, incorporating an extendable handle and wheels;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a further example of the invention, incorporating and offset handle;

FIG. 13A is a view of a typical cylindrical bucket;

FIG. 13B is a view of an example of a sealable lid for use with the bucket of FIG. 13A; and

FIG. 13C is a view of a batting tee and home plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, one example of the invention includes a bucket or carrier 10 that is sized and configured to hold equipment typically necessary to play Tee Ball, including balls, a bat, a helmet, a batting tee post, a glove, and other items. In this case the carrier or container is shaped in the form of a pentagon as viewed from the top, with the pentagon being in the form of a regulation home plate. The carrier in the example of FIG. 1 is formed from plastic or other suitable materials and is essentially a bucket, though with a pentagonal cross-sectional shape.

The carrier 10 includes a lid 12 that secures to the rim 14 of the carrier to seal the contents within the carrier. In this version the lid is formed in a pentagonal shape that conforms to the size and shape of a typical home plate for use in playing baseball. Thus, the lid may be removed and used as the home plate. A top surface 16 of the lid 12 is preferably smooth, as with a typical home plate. An opposing surface 18 of the lid (best seen in FIG. 13C) preferably includes an internally threaded bore 20 for receiving a complementary externally threaded end 22 of a Tee Ball batting post 24. The lid may further include an integrally molded cylinder extending away from the bore 20 (or instead of the bore 20) to provide further structural support for the attachment of the post 24. Likewise, the top surface 16 of the lid 12 may be configured to receive a bolt that extends through the lid and into a mating bore within the threaded end of the post 24. In other versions, the post and lid may secure to one another via a “quick connect” mechanism.

The lid secures to the carrier in any suitable fashion. For example, the carrier may include an internal diameter that is sized to snugly receive the lid. A corresponding seat below the rim of the carrier holds the lid in place. Alternatively, the lid may include a downwardly depending flange that engages the outer surface of the carrier rim. As yet another alternative, the lid may include a peripheral channel configured to receive the carrier rim. In these or other configurations the lid is configured to close the open end of the carrier.

A handle 30 is secured to one side of the carrier, enabling the carrier to be carried in a sideways orientation. The handle may be configured differently, such as described in other embodiments discussed below.

In some versions of the invention, the carrier includes internal compartments to separately store a bat, balls, the tee post, and other items. In other version, the interior of the carrier forms a single large compartment.

In the example of FIG. 2, the carrier 10 includes a first flap 40 and a second flap 42 that pivotally open to allow access to the interior. The first flap 40 is hingedly secured along the top 41 of one sidewall 45 while the second flap 42 is secured along the top 43 of the opposing sidewall. The handle 30 may be attached to one or both flaps. The configuration of FIG. 2 allows easier access to the interior of the carrier and may be configured to better trap the lid 12 within channels formed in the sidewalls and flaps.

FIGS. 3 and 4 depict yet another example in which the carrier 10 is hinged to allow it to be separated longitudinally along a hinge line 50. In this example, the handle may be separated into two separate halves 301, 30 b that mate together to form a single handle when the carrier is closed. The lid 12 removably forms one wall of the container and is retained in place by mating grooves, seats, or channels, as described above.

In a further example as illustrated in FIG. 5, the carrier 10 separates along a longitudinal hinge line but there is no separable lid as in the versions described above. Rather, each end 60, 62 of the carrier is permanently secured or integrally formed with the carrier. The interior of the carrier is sized, however, to enable it to receive a base 18 such as that shown in FIG. 13C within the carrier.

In the examples above, the handle 30 has been shown as being attached along one sidewall of the carrier. In other versions, the handle may be configured differently. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the handle may be attached to the top of the carrier to allow it to be carried in an upright fashion. In this case, the handle includes a metal or plastic wire arc together with a grip made from plastic, wood, foam or other materials. The handle orientation of FIG. 6 may be applied to any version of the invention, including those described above in FIGS. 1-5.

As seen in FIG. 7, for example, the lid 12 may be configured to be removably attached to a carrier 10 having a wire handle secured to the top of the carrier.

In still other versions of the invention, the carrier 10 includes one or more wheels. As best seen in FIGS. 8-10, one exemplary carrier 10 includes two wheels 70 aligned along one side of the base of the carrier. While the wheels may be incorporated into any version of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 8-10 they may be ideally joined with an extendable handle 80 that can be moved along a track or guide between a retracted position (FIG. 8) or an extended position (FIG. 9). Likewise, the handle may telescope without the use of a track. As seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, the remainder of the carrier, such as the removable lid 12, may be configured in accordance with any of the versions described above.

In another example, the lid 12 of the carrier 10 may be hingedly attached to the carrier by one or more hinges 90. Likewise, the lid may include one or more locks, snaps, or the like to secure it in place, either with or without hinges.

As shown in FIG. 12, the handle 30 may be offset to one side or the other, rather than being secured along one angle of the cross-sectional pentagon. Thus, as shown, the handle 30 is secured to one flap 40 adjacent the angle.

In the examples discussed above, the cross-sectional shape of the carrier has been in the form of a pentagon in order to match the shape of a typical home plate for a baseball or Tee Ball game. In other versions of the invention, the carrier may have a cross-sectional shape that is square, circular, or otherwise shaped. As shown in FIG. 13A, for example, the carrier may be circular in cross-sectional shape, thereby forming a cylinder. In one such version, the carrier is a standard five-gallon bucket having a typical handle attached to it.

One version of a lid 12 for the bucket is shown in FIG. 13B. As shown, the lid includes a cylindrical flange 13 that is configured to mate with the rim of the bucket and thereby serve as a lid. The lid may be modified in other versions, however, to reduce or eliminate the flange so that the lid has an interior surface that is generally flat and more suitable for use as home plate. In one such version the lid may include a peripheral groove or channel that is configured to receive the upper rim of the bucket for attachment.

As illustrated, lid further has a perimeter that forms a pentagon that is the same as or closely approximates a home plate. Thus, the lid may seal the bucket and be removed for use as a home plate. In alternate versions of the invention the lid is round as with a standard five gallon bucket lid. In such a version the lid may still be used as the base for the batting post and for home plate, but is round rather than pentagonal.

While a standard five gallon bucket lid is suitable in most applications, in other versions the lid is modified to increase the weight of the lid and provide more stability to the base. In particular, the weight of the lid is increased such that the center of gravity of the tee is no higher than one third of the height of the tee. Alternatively, the post may be formed with sufficient weight at the base of the post (that is, where it connects to the lid) to achieve the desired stability without any need to modify a standard lid.

The lid further includes a bore 20 that is internally threaded or otherwise configured to secure to a Tee Ball post such as that seen in FIG. 13C. As with the versions above, the post may be connected differently such as with a quick-connect fitting.

While the lid of FIG. 13B is configured to secure to the top of a bucket, it may alternatively be attached to the bottom of the bucket. In such a version of the invention, the bucket will preferably have a standard circular lid of the type commonly used with a five gallon bucket. In use, the post extends upward, out of the base of the bucket.

In further versions of the invention, the carrier is in the form of a bucket having an oval (including circular) cross section such that the Tee Ball base 18 of the type shown in FIG. 13C fits entirely within the bucket and does not serve as a lid for the bucket. In such a version, the base 18 may be configured to fit within a five gallon bucket, or the bucket may be sized to accommodate a home plate base 18 of regulation size. A bucket or carrier of this version preferably further is sized and shaped to accommodate balls, a batting tee, a glove, and a helmet. In most cases, the batting tee or post 24 will be telescopically configured to allow it to be reduced in size for storage as well as adjusted for the height of the batter.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferred embodiment. Instead, the invention should be determined entirely by reference to the claims that follow. 

1. A kit for use in playing tee ball, comprising, a carrier having a base and a plurality of upwardly extending sidewalls forming an interior space and terminating in a rim, the rim having a perimeter formed in the shape of a pentagon; a lid removably secured to the rim, the lid being formed in the shape of a pentagon; and a tee ball batting post secured to the lid and extending into the interior space; whereby the lid and tee ball batting post are configured to serve as a combination home plate and tee ball batting post when the lid is removed from the carrier.
 2. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a handle secured to the carrier.
 3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the handle is secured to the carrier adjacent the rim.
 4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the tee ball batting post is removably secured to the lid.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein a first one of the plurality of sidewalls is hingedly secured to a second one of the plurality of sidewalls whereby the first one of the plurality of sidewalls may be pivotably moved for access to the interior space.
 6. The kit of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of balls and a batting helmet stored within the interior space.
 7. The kit of claim 1, further comprising one or more wheels secured to the carrier and an extendable handle secured to the carrier.
 8. A kit for use in playing tee ball, comprising, a carrier having a bottom and a plurality of upwardly extending sidewalls forming an interior space and terminating in a rim, the rim having a perimeter formed in the shape of an oval; a tee ball batting base removably secured to the carrier, the tee ball batting base having a perimeter formed in the shape of a pentagon; and a tee ball batting post contained within the interior space, the tee ball batting post being configured to be attached to the tee ball batting base; whereby the tee ball batting base and tee ball batting post are configured to serve as a combination home plate and tee ball batting post when the lid is removed from the carrier.
 9. The kit of claim 8, wherein the tee ball batting base is secured to the rim of the carrier.
 10. The kit of claim 8, wherein the carrier is a five gallon bucket.
 11. The kit of claim 8, further comprising a handle secured to the carrier adjacent the rim.
 12. The kit of claim 8, wherein the tee ball batting post is permanently secured to the tee ball batting base.
 13. The kit of claim 8, further comprising a plurality of balls and a batting helmet stored within the interior space.
 14. The kit of claim 8, wherein the tee ball batting base is secured to the bottom of the carrier.
 15. The kit of claim 8, wherein the tee ball batting base further comprises a circular flange configured to mate with the rim of the carrier.
 16. A kit for use in playing tee ball, comprising: a carrier having a bottom and a plurality of upwardly extending sidewalls forming a substantially cylindrical interior space and terminating in a rim; a lid removably secured to the rim of the carrier; and a tee ball batting post contained within the interior space, the tee ball batting post being configured to be attached to the lid; whereby the lid and the tee ball batting post are configured to serve as a combination home plate and batting tee when the lid is removed from the carrier.
 17. The kit of claim 16, wherein the carrier is a five gallon bucket.
 18. The kit of claim 16, further comprising a handle secured to the carrier adjacent the rim.
 19. The kit of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of balls stored within the interior space.
 20. The kit of claim 16, wherein the tee ball batting post is permanently secured to the lid.
 21. The kit of claim 16, wherein the tee ball batting post is removably secured to the lid via a quick-connect fitting. 